Drilling machine



Dec. 30, 1958 B. H. HADLEY DRILLING MACHINE:

Filed Jan. 24. 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 liimulm.

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Dec. 30, 1958 B- HADLEY 2,866,366

DRILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24. 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 30, 1958 B. H. HADLl-:Y 2,866,356'

DRILLING MACHINE Filed Jap. 24. 1955 e sheets-sheet s Dec. 30, 1958 B. H. HADLEY 2,866,366

DRILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24. 1955 .fw-s

6 Sheets-Shea?I 4 fik/mers, k/ECH, 11K/755mg@ Bgm/s.

Dec. 30, 1958 B. H. H ADLEY 2,866,366

DRILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24. 1955 v6 Sheets-Sheet 5 5y //s rraweys 49772215, k/ECH, J/sree A921215.

Dec. 30, 1958 B, H, HADLEY 2,866,366

DRILLING MACHINE:

Filed Jan. 24. 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 www BEMJHM//v H. HnoL/sv,

[NVE/V70@ BY H/` HTTOPNEYS HA @1e/s, K/ECH, Fbs TER SHARE/S.

DRILLING MACHINE Benjamin H. Hadley, Pomona, Calif. Application January 24, 1955, Serial No. 483,540 Claims. (Cl. 77-22) The present invention relates to a new and improved drilling machine and to a method of drilling a plurality of holes in a predetermined pattern employed in the same.

It is frequently necessary to drill a large number of accurately spaced holes in various members, such as, for example, flat metal plates, in order to form such plates for various specific applications. A drill pr'ess is not generally considered satisfactory for such operations because of the amount of time required to drill the required number of holes and because of the frequent work spoilage caused by inattentive operation of the apparatus. The suitability of a drill press for such operations is not increased an unexpectedly large amount by the use of various conventional guides or jigs.

A broad object of the present invention is to teach an effective, inexpensive method for drilling a large number of accurately spaced holes which marks a substantial improvement over the above and related prior art procedures. A related broad object is to provide a method which can be readily adapted to various hole patterns and different members to be drilled.

A more speciiic object of this disclosure is to provide a method which includes moving a template correspond- -ing to the pattern of a plurality of holes to be drilled with respect to a plurality of drilling means while varying the location of said drilling means with respect to a member to be drilled, and periodically stopping such motion and engaging different portions of said template and at least part of said drill means so as to cause said engaged drill means to perform the desired function of drilling holes in said member. It is possible in carrying out the broad method of the present invention to move the drill means employed relative to the template and a member to be drilled, so that different portions of the template are used to engage the drill means when such motion is stopped.

It is an object of the instant invention to disclose a method of drilling a number of accurately spaced holes in a member which includes or comprises moving a template as described above with respect to a plurality of drill means while moving the member to be drilled with respect to these drill means, and periodically stopping such motion and engaging said template with at least part of said drill means, causing said engaged drill means 1o drill holes in said member. A further object of the present invention is to provide a method of the type de scribed in the preceding sentence in which said drill means are moved with respect to said template and said member for each position of said template and said member.

The term engaging used in the preceding discussion and in the balance of this application is employed in a broad sense to indicate physical engagement of the drill means with a template, such engagement being caused by motion of the template or the drill means employed. The term movement as used herein is intended to designate displacement of any of the parts indicated with '2,866,366 Patented Dec. 30, 1958 respect to one another as opposed to engagement as indicated above. Thus, the terms engaging or engagement employed designate movement causing the drilling of holes, whereas the term movement as used designates any other physical movement of parts. The terms drilling means or drill means used in this specification are intended to designate any equipment for drilling holes, such as, for example, a plurality of separate drill spindles rotated by a common power source, or a plurality of separate drills, each including its own power source. All such drilling means are provided with means, such as upstanding members, which are designed to be physically moved causing drilling when placed in physical contact or engagement with a template.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for carrying out the method previously indicated which includes or comprises a plurality of drill means, and a template corresponding to the pattern of a plurality of holes to be drilled which is mounted so as to be movable with respect to said drill means and so as to be capable of being placed in engagement with at least part of said drill means, causing said drill means to be operative for the purpose intended. A related object is to provide apparatus as described in the preceding sentence including means for holding a member to be drilled so that said member can be moved with respect to said drill means.

A more specific object is to teach the construction ol' an apparatus for the purpose described which comprises or includes a plurality of drilling means, a template of the type previously described, means for holding a member to be drilled, means for moving said tern plate and said means for holding with respect to said drilling means, and means for placing said template into engagement with at least part of said drilling means, causing the engaged drilling means to drill holes in a member held by said means for holding. Another object is to provide a device as described in the preceding sentence wherein said drilling means may be moved with respect to said template and said holding means.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved drilling machine as described in the above paragraph wherein both the template and the means for holding are mounted so as to move longitudinally of the machine upon rails in the loci of parallel planes, and wherein said drilling means are mounted between said parallel planes. A still further object of the disclosure is to teach the construction of a drilling machine as broadly described wherein said template and said means for holding are operatively connected together so as to be capable of moving simultaneously with respect to said drilling means, and wherein separate means are provided to place said template in engagement with said drilling means.

Another object is to provide a construction as broadly described herein in which the drilling means employed are capable of movement laterally or transversely of the machine with respect to said template and said holding means. A relatedobject is to produce a construction of the category indicated in the preceding sentence wherein said drilling means comprise a plurality of drill spindles actuated by `a common worm gear.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide drilling machines of the class described which are eX- tremely eilicient, comparatively inexpensive considering the work they perform, relatively simple to construct and maintain, and are capable of either manual or automatic operation. Further objects of the present invention, as well as further advantages of it, will be more fully apparent from the balance of this specification, including 3 the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a drilling machine of the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view taken along line 2--2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken at line 4 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken at line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a pattern of holes to be drilled in a workpiece; and

Figs. 6a to 6h are diagrammatic views illustrating the steps involved in drilling such pattern of holes.

Perhaps the invention is best further explained by reference to the drawings where there is shown a drilling inachine 10 constructed according to the teachings of this disclosure. This machine is built upon a base 11 from which there project piers 12 and 14 (Fig. 2) leading to a top bridge 15 supported by these piers 12 and 14 above the base 11. Between these piers, the bridge 15, and the base 11, there is mounted a drilling means 16; and adjacent to an end 17 of the base 11 there is positioned an elevator 18. The precise construction of the various parts and members will be more fully explained in detail in the balance of this specification.

The base 11 is provided adjacent to its upper surface 21 with a flat rail 22 and an inverted V-shaped rail 23, there rails being disposed parallel to one another leading from adjacent to the end 17 beneath the bridge 15. A carriage 24 having dependent sliding surfaces 25 and 26 is positioned upon the base 11 with these surfaces resting upon the rails 22 and 23, respectively. This carriage 24 is adapted to be moved longitudinally of the machine 10 along these rails beneath the bridge 15 by means of a hydraulic cylinder 27 attached to an end 28 of the base 11, this cylinder having a piston rod 29 projecting generally parallel to the rails 22 and 23, and connected to a lug 30 attached to the carriage 24. By virtue of this construction, it is possible to move the carriage 24 along the entire length of the base 11 so that any portion of the carriage may be located beneath the drilling means 16.

Positioned upon the upper surface of the carriage 24 is an upstanding hollow post 40 (Fig. 3) having adjacent to its upper end 41 bushings 42 within which there is slidably positioned a shaft 43. This shaft 43 is rigidly connected to a platen 44 mounted beneath the bridge 15 so as to roll upon wheels 46 attached to frame 48 of a platen carrier 47. As is most clearly seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the platen carrier is attached to a piston 49 depending from a hydraulic cylinder 50 mounted within the bridge 15. Stabilizer shafts 51 are also attached to the frame 48 so as to project therefrom parallel to the axis of the cylinder 50 up through bushings 52 mounted upon the bridge 15 as shown. The purpose of these stabilizer shafts 51 is to prevent rotation of the platen carrier about the cylinder 50.

Mounted upon the platen 44 by appropriate means (not shown) such as bolts, screws, etc., so as to face the base 11. is a template 60 having a flat lower surface 61 leading to sides 62. These sides 62, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, are cut away from the edge 54 of this lower surface 61. The precise configuration of this lower surface 61 is variable, and is determined by and corresponds to the configuration of the pattern it is desired to drill in a member being drilled by this machine 10. In other words, the precise configuration of the lower surface 61 of the ternplate 60 differs for different hole patterns to be drilled.

The drilling means 16 are mounted beneath the bridge 15, the platen carrier 47, and the template 60, and between the piers 12 and 14 by the use of horizontal shafts 63 projecting into bushings 55 mounted upon the piers 12 and 14, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The drilling means 16 includes a central housing 64 to which the shafts 63 are attached, this housing carrying a plu- 4 ralty of drill spindles 65 projecting from both the top and the bottom thereof. The position of the housing 64 with respect to the piers 12 and 14 is controlled by means of a shaft 66 secured to the housing 64 and projecting into the pier 12 through a suitable bushing 67 attached to the pier 12.

Within the housing 64, there is positioned a worm 70 (Figs. 3 and 5) projecting generally parallel to the base 11, this worm 70 being provided with cylindrical ends 71 `carried by bearings 72 mounted internally of the housing 64 adjacent to the piers 12 and 14. Preferably sufcient space is provided adjacent to these bearings 72 so that the worm 70 is shifted with respect to the housing 64 when the shaft 66 is adjusted. In operation of the device, the worm 70 is normally constantly rotated by power transmitted from a gear motor 73 (Fig. 2), attached to the pier 14, through a flexible coupling 74.

Each of the drill spindles 65 includes an actual drill 75 held by a drill chuck 76, this chuck being rigidly attached to a vertical shaft 77 projecting through a bearing 78 into a cavity 79 (Fig. 3) adjacent to the worm 71) within the housing 64, and thence out of this cavity 79 through another bearing 69 into another cavity 80 where it terminates in a thrust block 81. Within the cavity 79, the shaft 77 is keyed to a cylindrical pinion gear 82 surrounding the shaft 77, this pinion gear being in contact with the worm 70 so as to rotate when this worm rotates, causing the shaft 77, the chuck 76 and the drill 75 to rotate.

With this arrangement, the thrust block 81 does not rotate, and is held so that a projection 83 slides within a groove 84 in a thrust bar 85. The thrust bar 84 is provided with a series of grooves similar to the groove 84, each of which is adapted to hold a similar projection on each of the thrust blocks employed. The precise construction of the thrust block 81 employed may be varied within wide limits. For example, each shaft 77 may be formed with a projecting collar held within a complementary-shaped cavity within the thrust blocks 81.

Each of the thrust blocks 81 carries an upstanding shaft 86 projecting through aperture 87 within the housing 64 in such a manner that as the ends 88 of these shafts 86 removed from the housing are depressed, the thrust blocks 81 are moved towards the base 11, moving the operatively connected parts of the drill spindle 65 towards the base. The shafts 86 are provided with terminal collars 89 adjacent to the ends 88, and coil springs 90 are placed between these collars 89 and the housing 64 around the shafts 86.

The shaft 66 within the pier 12 carries a cam follower 93 (Fig. 5) which is adapted to ride within a cam groove 94 positioned around the circumference of a rotary cylinder 9S mounted by means of a bearing 96 upon the inside of the pier 12. An overrunning clutch 97 is positioned within this cylinder away from the drilling means 16 and is connected to a Y-shaped movement arm 98, as is best seen in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The precise functioning of this clutch and rotary cam assembly will be more fully explained later, it being sufficient to state here that the cam means or cam assembly 93, 94 moves the drilling means 16 laterally or transversely of the drilling machine 10 in a step-by-step manner, the number of steps corresponding to the number of dwells with which the cam groove 94 is provided.

Beneath the drilling means 16 there are provided rails 101 upon the carriage 24. These rails serve to carry in a fixed position a worktable 102 having an upper surface 103, parallel edge flanges 104 which are positioned adjacent the piers 12 and 14, internal side grooves 105, and lower anges 106. The worktable 102 is, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 2 of the drawings, adapted to be lifted by means of rollers 107 carried upon upstanding piston rods 108 projecting from hydraulic cylinders 109 mounted within the carriage 24. These cylinders 109 are adapted to be actuated by means of exible hydraulic lines not shown. By virtue of this construction, it is possible ansa-see to lift the worktable 102 upon the rollers 107 `so that this worktable may be moved with respect lto the carriage .24, or to lower these rollers .fo as to position this worktable 102 against the rail 101. In this latter position, it is possible to clamp the worktable in position by holding the rollers 107 against the flange 106.

The-worktable 102 employed carries a iixture plate 112 mounted upon its upper surface vand a plurality of dogs 116, each of these dogs being adapted to engage an edge 117 of a plate or work piece 120 to be `drilled so as to rigidly position such a `plate upon the worktable 112. The precise construction of the dogs employed with the invention may be varied within wide limits. Usually, however, they are constituted by a common bolt and a metal clamp or equivalent mechanical elements. If desired, these dogs may be automatically tightened by means of hydraulic cylinders controlled by switch means mounted on the worktable 102.

Adjacent the end 17 ofthe base 11, there is positioned an elevator 18, including a piston rod 123 `projecting from an upstanding hydraulic cylinder 124 upward between parallel sides 125 disposed generally parallel `to the rails 22 and 23. Between these sides there is held by the piston rod 123 an elevator frame 126 having pairs of side bars 127 carrying adjacent their upper surfaces rollers 128. With this specic construction, it is possible by actuating the cylinder 12d to vary the location of the frame 126 so that different pairs of the side bars 127 are positioned adjacent the base 11 in order to receive the worktable 102 from the carriage 24.

Mounted beneath the wo-rktable 102 upon the carriage 241 is a hydraulic cylinder 130 (Fig. 3) carrying a travel rod 131 adapted to slide within an appropriate bearing 132, this bearing also being mounted upon the carriage 24. Immediately above the travel rod, there is placed within the carriage 24 a slot 13d through which there projects a small pusher-type lug 135 serving to engage a projection 136 on the worktable 102 when the hydraulic cylinder 130 is actuated. When the worktable is lifted upon the rollers 107 by means or" the hydraulic cylinders 109 and this cylinder 130 is actuated, the worktable 102 is shoved past the end 17 of the base 11 onto either of the pairs of guide bars 127 on the frame 126 of the elevator 10. After this has occurred, the hydraulic cylinder 1241 of the elevator is preferably actuated so as to move the other pair of guide bars 127 into alignment with the carriage 24tso that a second worktable (not shown) may be rolled upon the carriage 24 either by hand or by the use of appropriate electrical, mechanical, or hydraulic mechanisms (not shown). When a worktable is positioned upon the elevator 18, the work upon this table can easily be replaced as a member upon another worktable is being drilled.

The operation The operation of the drilling machine will be considered iirst in a relatively general way to provide an over-all picture, and then the operation will be considered in detail. In considering the operation generally, it will be assumed that the worktable 102, carrying the workpiece 120, has been transferred from the elevator 18 to the carriage 24 and has been locked to the carriage.

The carriage 211 and the template 60, which are interconnected in the manner hereinbefore described, are movable longitudinally of the drilling machine 10 from right to left, as viewed in Fig. 1 of the drawings, to align successive portions of the template 60 and the workpiece 120 with the drilling means 16. Such longitudinal movement of the carriage 24 and the template 60 takes place in a step-by-step manner and is produced by a longitudinal indexing means which controls the hydraulic cylinder 27 for moving the carriage. As will be pointed out in more ,detail hereinafter, this longitudinal indexing means includes a hydraulic cylinder 145 which moves a pawl 146 yinto Contact with a rack 147 at the end of each step of or increment.

plate 60, this mechanism acting to deenergize the hydraulic cylinder 27 after each such increment.

Advancing the carriage 24 and the template 60 longitudinally in the foregoing manner positions the drilling means 16 between the template and the workpiece 120. The template 60 is then moved downwardly and any drill spindles 65 in its path are engaged to drill a hole, tor a row of holes, in the workpiece 120, the particular drill spindles 65 engaged by the template depending upon the conguration of the template, which, in turn, depends upon the hole pattern to be drilled in the workpiece 120.

The foregoing accomplished, the drilling means 16 are then indexed transversely or laterally of the drilling machine 10 in a step-by-step manner without changing the longitudinal position of the carriage 24 and the template 60, the template being moved downwardly at the end of each increment of lateral movement of the drilling means to drill additional holes in the row mentioned. Again, the particular drill spindles 65 engaged by the template 60 each time it is moved downwardly depend on the conguration of the template, which is determined by the hole pattern to be drilled. The step-by-step lateral or transverse movement of the drilling means 16 is produced by a lateral or transverse indexing means formed by the cam groove 94 and the cam follower 93 therein, the number of increments of lateral movement of the drilling means 16 depending upon the number of dwells with which the cam groove 94 is provided. For example, holes may be drilled in the workpiece in each of three lateral positions of the drilling means 16, although this number may be varied.

After thedrilling means 16 Ihave been moved laterally of the drilling machine 10 in the foregoing manner to one end of the travel of the drilling means 16, the longitudinal indexing means hereinbefore described is again actuated to advance the carriage 2d and the template 60 longitudinally of the drilling machine 10 by one more step With the carriage 24 and the template 60 in this new longitudinal position, the drilling means 16 are again indexed transversely or laterally of the drilling machine 10 in a step-by-step manner, this time in a direction opposite to that described in the preceding paragraph. In each position of the drilling means 16 relative to the carriage 24 and the template 60, the template is lowered into engagement with any of the drill spindles 65 which happen to be inits path. This accomplished, the carriage 24 and the template 60 are advanced longitudinally one more step, and the foregoing events are then repeated, until such time as the entire area of the lower surface 61 of the template 60 has been brought into engagement with the drilling means 16 to drill the entire hole pattern determined by the configuration of the temi late.

p Thus, it will be seen that relative longitudinal movement occurs between the drilling means 16 on the one hand and the carriage24 and the template 60 on the other, `and that relative lateral movement occurs between the drilling means 16 o-n the one hand and the template 60 and the carriage 24 on the other, both the longitudinal and the lateral movements taking place step-by-step under the control of the respective longitudinal and lateral indeXing means. More particularly, the carriage 24 and the template 60 are advanced longitudinally one step, the drilling means 16 are moved laterally in one direction in a step-by-step manner, the carriage and the template .are then advanced longitudinally one more step and the drilling means 16 are then advanced laterally in a stepby-step manner in the opposite direction, the template 60 being lowered into engagement with the drilling means at the end of each such longitudinal and lateral step. This sequence of events is then repeated until the entire area of the lower surface 61 of the template 60 has acted upon the `drilling means. The configuration of the lower surface of the template 60 determines the boundary of the hole pattern drilled in the workpiece 120, and may be anything whatsoever, depending upon the hole pattern desired. Y Y

The foregoing general description of the operation of the drilling7 machine 10 will now be amplified with reference to Figs. 6 and 6a to 6h of the drawings.

Illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings is a pattern of holes a, b, c, d, e, f, g and h to be drilled in the workpiece 120, this pattern of holes having' been arbitrarily selected. The particular configuration of the hole pattern shown in Fig. 6 requires .a corresponding template configuration, the required template being designated by the numeral 60 in Figs. 6a to 6h. The particular hole pattern which has been arbitrarily selected for illustrative purposes can be drilled as the result of the hereinafterdescribed interaction of the template 60 with only thrcc of the drill spindles 65 of the drilling means 16, these three drill spindles being designated x, y and z for convenience. In some of Figs. 6a to 611, one of the drill spindles x, y and z has moved out of the field of view as the result of the hereinbefore-mentioned transverse movement of the drilling means 16.

Considering Fig. 6a, the template 60 and the workpiece 120 are in their first longitudinal position and the drill spindles x, y and z are in their first transverse position. As will be apparent, if the template 60 is now moved t0- ward the workpiece 120, it will actuate only the drill spindles x and y to drill the two holes a of Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 6b, the drill spindles x, y and z have now been moved transversely one step, into their second transverse position, without moving the template 60 and the workpiece 120 longitudinally. Now, the template 60 is engageable with the drill spindle y only to drill the hole b of Fig. 6.

Next, as shown in Fig. 6c, the drill spindles x, y and z are moved to their third transverse position (the drill spindle x having moved out of the field of view) with the template 60 and the workpiece 120 still in their first longitudinal position. Under these conditions, the template is engageable with the drill spindles y and z to drill the two holes c of Fig. 6.

Up to this point, all of the holes a, b and c comprising the first transverse row of holes of Fig. 6 have been drilled.

The next step is to move the template 60 and the workpiece 120 longitudinally of the machine by one increment, as shown in Fig. 6d, without changing the transverse position of the drill spindles x, y and z. As shown in Fig. 6d, the template 60 is now engageable with the drill spindle z to drill the hole d of Fig. 6.

Now, referring to Fig. 6e, the drill spindles x, y and z are moved transversely one step back to their hereinbefore-mentioned second position. At this stage, the ternplate 60 is engageable with the drill spindle y to drill the hole e of Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 63, the drill spindles x, y and z have now been returned to their hereinbefore-mentioned first transverse position, the template 60 now being engage- `able with the drill spindle y to drill the hole f of Fig. 6.

At this point, the holes d, e and f comprising the second transverse row of holes of the hole pattern of Fig. 6 have been drilled.

The next step is to move the template 60 and the workpiece 120 longitudinally one more increment, as shown in Fig. 6g, without moving the drill spindles'x, y and z transversely from their first transverse position. Now, as shown in Fig. 6g, the template 60 is engageable with the drill spindle y to drill the hole g of Fig. 6.

Finally, the drill spindles x, y and z are again moved transversely into their third transverse position, as shown in Fig. 6h, without moving the workpiece 120 and the template 60 longitudinally from their third longitudinal position. (In actual practice, the template 60vwould be moved downwardly for every transverse position of the drill spindles x, y and z, but with the template 60 and the a workpiece in their third position, as shown in Figs. 6g andy 6h, the template 60 would not have engaged any 'ofthe drill spindles x, y and 'z for the second transverse position of these spindles. Consequently, a view intervening Figs. 6g and 6h has been omitted.) At this point, the template 60 is engageable with the drill spindle z to drill the last hole, h, of the hole pattern of Fig. 6.

At this stage, the transverse row of holes g and h has been added, the hole pattern of Fig. 6 now being cornplete.

As hereinbefore pointed out, the hole pattern of Fig. 6 is entirely arbitrary and is merely representative of numerous possible hole patterns which can be drilled with the present invention. Also, only three of the drill spindles 65 are required to drill the hole pattern of Fig. 6, but it will be understood that the number of drill spindles utilized for a particular hole pattern may be less than, or greater than, three.

With the foregoing general description of the operation of the drilling machine 10 in mind, the operation of the various components which produce the foregoing interaction of the workpiece 120, the carriage 24, the drilling means 16 and the template 60 will now be considered. At the start of the actual operation of the machine the appropriate switches 137 are actuated, starting the gear motor 73 and supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to the machine 10 from a source (not shown). Then a plate 120 to be drilled is placed under the worktable 102 located upon the elevator 18. Following this, the dogs 116 are tightened down by the use of appropriate wrenches. If automatically-controlled hydraulic means as previously indicated are employed to tighten these dogs 116, this last step is, of course, dispensed with. Next, the worktable 102 is rolled from the elevator 18 upon the rollers 107 mounted upon the carriage 24 until a switch 141 located upon the lower surface of the worktable 102 engages a latch 142 mounted upon the base 11. This switch when actuated in this manner causes the hydraulic cylinders 109 to retract the rollers 107 so that these rollers engage the lower flanges 106, clamping the worktable 102 upon the carriage 24.

After this operation has been completed, a handle 143 is turned opening a valve 144 causing the hydraulic cylinder 27 to move the carriage 24 and the connected platen carrier 47 generally towards the piers 12 and 14. Simultaneously, the valve 144 is used to actuate the hydraulic cylinder 145 (Fig. l) raising the pawl 146 into contact with the rack 147 so that this pawl engages any one of a series of notches 148 placed upon the rack. When this pawl reaches this position, a switch 149 operatively connected to the cylinder 145 operates a valve 150 stopping the flow of hydraulic uid to the cylinder 27.

After this has been done, a handle 151 is rotated turning an indexing valve to an initial position and thereafter opening a valve 152 actuating the hydraulic cylinder 50 so as to move the template 60 downwards towards the base 11. If any portions of this template 60 happen to be above the drilling means 16, such portions engage the adjacent ends 88 of the drill spindles 65, forcing these spindles downward and causing the appropriate drills 75 to bore holes within the plate 120. The motion of the piston 50 is controlled by means of a ram-speed governing valve 153 (Figs. 4 and 5) positioned within a pier 12, this ram-speed governing valve being operated by means of an arm 154 mounted upon the platen carrier 47. This arm 154 is also used to open a switch 155 at the start of the movement of the piston 50 downwards so as to start coolant flow from a coolant pump 157 (Fig. 2) through a coolant distributing pipe 160 (Figs. 3 and 5) mounted between the piers 12 and 14 in order to effect a discharge of coolant within the area of the drills 75 of the work 120 through openings 161. After the motion downward of the piston 50 has proceeded to a given point, a switch 162 within the pier 12 is actuated by the arm 154 causing a relay 163 to be energized, and actuatvtioned on arms 168 mounted on ing the valve 152 so as to return the cylinder 50 to its initial position. This, of course, causes a withdrawal of any drills 75 employed in drilling because of the upward pull exerted on the spindles 65 engaged by the platen 60 by action of the springs 90, this pull being transmitted through the thrust blocks 81. As this withdrawal occurs, there is a tendency for the plate 120 to be pulled upward. This tendency is combated by means of rollers 167 posipivots 169 carried by projections 170 attached to the pipe 160 adjacent to the openings 161. These arms 168 project through the openings 161 into the interior of the pipe 160 where they are connected to springs 171 disposed within retaining cups 172. These springs normally urge the rollers 167 into contact with the plate 120 during the drilling operation. Adjustable stops 173 may be provided within the pipe 160 to control movement of the arms 168.

The relay 163 is also utilized to turn the indexing valve 180 from an initial position, as indicated above, to a second position. In this second position, the indexing valve 180 serves to actuate a hydraulic indexing cylinder 181 so as to cause a piston 182 attached to this cylinder to move downwards. This piston 182, as is best seen in Fig. 4 of the drawings, is attached to the movement arm 98, and serves to rotate this movement arm 98 generally about the center of the bearing 96. This rotation is transmitted through the overrunning clutch 97 to the cylinder 95, moving this cylinder so as to position a different portion of the cam groove 94 in contact with the cam follower 93 effecting movement or displacement of the drilling means 16 along the general direction of a horizontal line drawn between piers 12 and 14. When the movement arm 98 has rotated a suilicient amount, this arm contacts a switch 183 which, in turn, eiectuates the return of the piston 182 within the indexing cylinder 181, rotating the movement arm 98 back to its initial location. This motion does not affect the position of the cylinder 95 and the cam groove 94 because of the action of the overrunning clutch 97.

When the piston rod 182 has reached its lowermost travel position, the movement arm 98 is also in contact with a switch 184 which serves to actuate a hydraulic valve 185, serving to again actuate the hydraulic cylinder 5t) moving the platen carrier 47 towards the base 11 having the effect indicated previously. The operation of the machine is set up so that at the end of the drilling operation, the relay 163 is again utilized to turn the indexing valve 180 to a third position, causing the various movements previously described and resulting in the hydraulic cylinder 50 being again actuated when the drilling means 16 are positioned in a third position on a line between the piers 12 and 14.

After holes have been drilled in this third position, the switch 162 utilized to actuate the relay 163 is also employed to actuate a circuit including a switch 186 which is adapted to be closed when a contact arm 188 upon the switch is held within a given location in the cam groove 94, and including the switch 162 and the relay 163. When this switch 186 is closed completing this circuit, the valve 144 is actuated causing the pawl 146 to be withdrawn from the rack 148, and simultaneously causing the hydraulic cylinder 127 to move the carriage 24 and the connected platen carrier 47 in a general direction towards the piers 12 and 14. As soon as the pawl 146 has been withdrawn to the lower limit permitted by the cylinder 145, the switch 149 connected to this cylinder 145 operates a valve 151! stopping iiow of hydraulic uid to the cylinder 27 and causing the pawl 144 to be raised into contact with another notch of the series of notches 148. The exact amount which the carriage 24 is moved upon the base 11 may be controlled by the rate at which the hydraulic cylinder 145 is operated and this, in turn, may be the function of a flow control valve or like mechanism. Such controlling means are not shown in the drawings. After the movement of the carriage 24 has been completed, a switch 187 is actuated by means of an actuating arm 189 normally moving in the cam groove 94. This switch energizes the relay 163 again opening the valve 152 causing the drilling operation and the various indexing operations previously described to proceed. The whole cycle of operations set forth in this discussion are, of course, repeated periodically until an entire pattern ot' holes corresponding to the shape of the template 60 has been created.

Once a pattern of holes has been drilled by the operation set forth, the carriage 24 is positioned very nearly completely beneath the bridge 15. At this position a latch 198 mounted upon the base 11 is engaged by a switch 191, this switch serving to actuate the pistons 169, lifting the rollers 187, lifting the worktable 102 from the carriage 24 and serving to actuate the hydraulic cylinder 130, moving the lug against the projection 136 so as to push the worktable 102 off the base 11 onto the elevator 18. After this has been accomplished, the hydraulic cylinder 124 used with this elevator may be actuated so as to place another worktabie adjacent the base 11 and the entire drilling operation described may be repeated.

Those skilled in the art will realize that a wide variety of conventional automatic control circuits and hydraulic arrangements may be utilized with the instant invention. For clarity, the hydraulic lines and electrical conductors employed in the device herein described have not been shown. These items are not per se part of the inventive concept and may be readily located by those skilled in the art. Broadly, any program-control apparatus of known variety can be utilized to govern the oper-ation of the herein described and disclosed machine.

Obviously, the invention as indicated in this specification is capable of wide modification within the broad scope of the instant disclosure. As an example of such modification, several rows of drill spindles 65 may be utilized within the drilling means 16 and drill spindles upon both of these rows can be simultaneously actuated as herein indicated. Further, various electric means or hydraulic means can be substituted for the cam and overrunning clutch arrangement utilized to displace the drilling means. It will be at once realized by those skilled in the art that it is possible to construct a machine within the scope of the broad teachings of this invention in which no displacement of the drilling means with respect to the direction of movement of the member being drilled is accomplished. Alternatively, it is possible to displace the drilling means employed any desired number of times so as to locate the holes drilled with respect to one another with any desired degree of closeness. All such adaptations and modifications of this category are to be considered as part of the inventive concept insofar as they are dened by the patent claims.

The term template used in this application and the appended claims is to be considered as including any structure serving the same function of the template herein described in the same manner in which this template operates. Thus, the term template as employed herein is to be considered as including by reference related structures of any category in which a portion of the template is brought into engagement with drill means in order to actuate such drill means.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine for drilling in a workpiece a pattern of holes having a predetermined conguration, the combination of: a plurality of drilling means selectively engageable with the workpiece; a template having a configuration matching the configuration of the pattern of holes to be drilled in the workpiece and selectively engageable with said drilling means to produce selective engagement between said drilling means and the Workpiece; means for producing selective engagement be- 11 tween said template and said drilling means; and means for relatively moving the workpiece and template and said drilling means transversely of the axes of said drilling means so as to align said drilling means with difierent portions of the workpiece and template.

2. In a machine for drilling in a workpiece a pattern of holes having a predetermined configuration, the cornbination of holding means for the workpiece; a plurality of drilling means independently movable toward and away from said holding means and into and out of engagement with the workpiece, whereby said drilling means are selectively engageable with the workpiece; a template on the opposite side of said drilling means from said workpiece and having a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the pattern of holes to be drilled in the workpiece, said template being movable toward and selectively engageable with said drilling means to produce selective engagement between said drilling means and the workpiece; means for moving said template toward and into selective engagement with said drilling means; and means for relatively moving said holding means and template and said drilling means in one direction so as to align said drilling means with different portions of said template and the workpiece.

3. In a machine for drilling in a workpiece a pattern of holes having a predetermined configuration, the combination of: holding means for the workpiece; a plurality of drilling means independently movable toward and away from said holding means and into and out of engagement with the workpiece, whereby said drilling means are selectively engageable with the workpiece; a template on the opposite side of said drilling means from said workpiece and having a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the pattern of holes to be drilled in the workpiece, said template being movable toward and selectively engageable with said drilling means to produce selective engagement between said drilling means and the workpiece; means for moving said template toward and into selective engagement with said drilling means; and means for relatively moving said holding means and template and said drilling means in two directions at right angles to each other so as to align said drilling means With different portions of said template and the workpiece.

4. In a machine for drilling in a workpiece a pattern of holes having a predetermined configuration, the combination of: holding means for the workpiece; a plurality of drilling means independently movable toward and away from said holding means and into and out of engagement with the workpiece, whereby said drilling means are selectively engageable with the workpiece; a template on the opposite side of said drilling means from said workpiece and having a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the pattern of holes to be drilled in the workpiece, said template being movable toward and selectively engageable with said drilling means to produce selective engagement between said drilling means and the workpiece; means for moving said template toward and into selective engagement with said drilling means; and means for moving said holding means and said template relative to said drilling means so as to align different portions of said template and the workpiece with said drilling means.

5. In a machine for drilling in a workpiece a pattern of holes having a predetermined configuration, the cornbination of: holding means for the-workpiece; a plurality of drilling means independently movable toward and away from said holding means and into and out of engagement with the workpiece, whereby said drilling means are selectively engageable with the workpiece; a template on the opposite side of said drilling means from said workpiece and having a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the pattern of holes to be drilled in the workpiece, said template being movable toward and selectively engageable with said drilling means to produce selective engagement between said drilling means and the workpiece; means for moving said template toward and into selective engagement with said drilling means; and means for moving said drilling means relative to said holding means and said template so as to align said drilling means with different portions of said template and the workpiece.

6. In a machine for drilling in a workpiece a pattern of holes having a predetermined configuration, the combination of: holding means for the workpiece; a plurality of drilling means independently movable toward and away from said holding means and into and out of engagement with the workpiece, whereby said drilling means are selectively engageable with the workpiece; a template on the opposite side of said drilling means from said workpiece and having a configuration coresponding to the configuration of the pattern of holes to be drilled in the workpiece, said template being movable toward and selectively engageable with said drilling means to produce selective engagement between said drilling means and the workpiece; means for moving said template toward and into selective engagement with said drilling means; means for moving said holding means and said template relative to said drilling means in one direction so as to align different portions of said template and the workpiece with said drilling means; and means for moving said drilling means relative to said holding means and said template in another direction at right angles to said one direction so as to align said drilling means with different portions of said template and the workpiece.

7. In a machine for drilling in a workpiece a pattern of holes having a predetermined configuration, the combination of: holding means for the workpiece; a plurality of drilling means independently movable toward and away from said holding means and into and out of engagement with the workpiece, whereby said drilling means are selectively engageable with the workpiece; a template on the opposite side of said drilling means from said workpiece and having a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the pattern of holes to be drilled in the workpiece, said template being movable toward and selectively engageable with said drilling means to produce selective engagement between said drilling means and the workpiece; means for moving said template toward and into selective engagement with said drilling means; longitudinal indexing means for moving said holding means and said template relative to said drilling means along a longitudinal path in a step-by-step manner so as to align successive portions of said template and the workpiece with said drilling means; and lateral indexing means for moving said drilling means relative to said holding means and said template along a lateral path at right angles to said longitudinal path in a step-by-step manner so as to align said drilling means with successive portions of said template and the workpiece.

8. In a machine for drilling in a workpiece a pattern of holes having a predetermined configuration, the combination of: holding means for the workpiece; a plurality of drilling means independently movable toward and away from said holding means and into and out of engagement with the workpiece, whereby said drilling means are selectively engageable with the workpiece; a template on the opposite side of said drilling means from said workpiece and having a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the pattern of holes to be drilled in the workpiece, said template being movable toward and selectively engageable with said drilling means to produce selective engagement between said drilling means and the workpiece; means for moving said template toward and into selective engagement with said drilling means; longitudinal indexing means for moving said holding means and said template relative to said drilling means along a longitudinal path in a step-by-step manner so as to align successive portions of said template and the workpiece with said drilling means; and lateral indexing means for moving said drilling means relative to said holding means and said template along a lateral path at right angles to said longitudinal path in a stcp-by-step manner so as to align said drilling means with successive portions of said template and the workpiece, said lateral indexing means including means for moving said drilling means along said lateral path first in one direction and then in the opposite direction.

9. In a machine for drilling in a workpiece a pattern of holes having a predetermined configuration, the combination of: holding means for the workpiece; a plurality of drilling means independently movable toward and away from said holding means and into and out of engagement with the workpiece, whereby said drilling means are selectively engageable with the workpiece; a template on the opposite side of said drilling means from said workpiece and having a configuration corresponding to the conguration of the pattern of holes to be drilled in the workpiece, said template being movable toward and selectively engageable with said drilling means to produce selective err gagernent between said drilling means and the workpiece; means for moving said template toward and into selective engagement with said drilling means; longitudinal indexing means for moving said holding means and said template relative to said drilling means along a longitudinal path in a step-by-step manner so as to align successive portions of said template and the workpiece with said drilling means; lateral indexing means for moving said drilling means relative to said holding means and said template along a lateral path at right angles to said longitudinal path in a step-by-step manner so as to align said drilling means with successive portions of said template and the workpiece; and means for energizing said means for moving said template into selective engagement'with said drilling means, after each increment of movement of said holding means and said template along said longitudinal path and after each increment of movement of said drilling means along said lateral path.

10. A drilling machine as defined in claim l wherein each of said drilling means includes: supporting means; a rst shaft rotatable and axially reciprocable relative to said supporting means and carrying at one end thereof a chuck for holding a drill; means for rotating said first shaft; a second shaft axially aligned with said first shaft and reciprocable relative to said supporting means, one end of said second shaft being engageable by said template; and thrust transmitting means reciprocable relative to said supporting means and interconnecting the other ends of said first and second shafts, said first shaft being rotatable relative to said thrust transmitting means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Schultz Oct. 12, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT oEETCE CERTIFICATE OF `CORRECTION Patent No 866,366 Deeember 30, 1958 Benjamin Hadley It is hereby certified that error appears in the-printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3y line 29p yfoi' "there Teilen :fread me these rails mi; column Sy line 28, for Hplaced under" read e placed upon me Signed and sealed this 5th day of May 195% (SEAL) Attest:

KARL XLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Ocer Commissioner of Patents 

